Out to put borough on the jobs map

BUSINESSES in Gedling borough are being urged to show what they have to offer to the local enterprise partnership which plans to create 55,000 jobs.

David Ralph, the chief executive of D2N2, is attending an event in Arnold on Tuesday when he will discuss plans to deliver a £2 billion business investment programme across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

The local enterprise partnership (LEP) was established last year to drive economic growth and prosperity across the region.

It aims to create 55,000 new jobs in the two counties by 2023. Tuesday's event is being hosted by Gedling Borough Council to raise the profile of Gedling businesses with the LEP.

Members of the Gedling Business Partnership – a group delivered by businesses which hosts monthly networking events – will also attend the event.

Mike Stripling, chairman of the business partnership and director of home energy-saving business Cobalt Carbon Free, said: "We want to show just what Gedling has to offer.

"There's a big land mass in [the borough of] Gedling so we have a lot to offer in terms of space – we have the Calverton colliery and the old Gelding pit sites.

"D2N2 is an organisation which is all about businesses and we hope to push quite a broad agenda that includes providing job opportunities and stimulating more growth in existing businesses."

Wayne Smith, director of Integra Legal Ltd based in Gedling, said: "I would be very interested in hearing what D2N2 has to offer to help businesses in the area to prosper."

John Robinson, chief executive of Gedling Borough Council, said: "D2N2 is the local enterprise partnership for our area, set up by the Government to support economic growth and create local jobs.

"It has considerable influence and access to a significant amount of funding and this event has been set up to raise the profile of Gedling businesses with the LEP and raise awareness of the role of the LEP and how it might benefit Gedling businesses."